Product Details

• Actors: Akiko Hiramatsu, Megumi Toyoguchi, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Yurika Hino, Kappei Yamaguchi
• Directors: Takashi Nakamura
• Writers: Takashi Nakamura
• Producers: John Ledford, Mark Williams, Taro Maki
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: ADV Films
• DVD Release Date: March 8, 2005
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007D4M9A
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,979 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "A Tree of Palme" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The feature Tree of Palme (2001) was reportedly a pet project of writer-director Takashi Nakamura, who has worked with both Katsuhiro Otomo and Hayao Miyazaki. The plot borrows liberally from Pinocchio, Robot Carnival, Akira et al. Palme, a puppet created by a scientist to aid his wife, has hung mutely from a tree since her death. But he reawakens when he receives the mysterious Egg of Touto from a woman, who tells him to take it to Tama. En route, Palme meets a band of street urchins and Popo, a mistreated girl. As they search for the way to Tama, the story loses what little coherence it ever offered. Characters appear, disappear, and change sides for no reason, and at 136 minutes, the film is a half-hour too long. Tree of Palme offers some striking visuals, but it’s the cinematic equivalent of a trackless swamp. (Unrated, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

TREE OF PALME - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a film, a eternally misunderstood masterpiece., December 28, 2005

By 

Michele Easterling - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Tree of Palme (DVD)

A tree of palme is a beutiful animated film loosely based upon the ever iconic Pinnochio. That is not to say this is a retelling of that story, it is a film based on the CONCEPT of Pinnochio rather than the NARRATIVE, those who were angered or confused by the fact that the filom has little to nothing to do with the fairy tale are just missing the point.
A Tree of Palme is the story about one puppets (Palmes') quest to become human. And as a side note to ANYONE claiming that this is not his(Palme's) original intent, his pseudo father says upon reactivating him that he called the Fairy Xian and chased the giant fish because he was searching for a purpose, all he wants to be is human, he merely does not relize that it is the very longing to be human that makes him human.

The film is lovingly crafted and full of wierd alien landscapes designed soley to evoke wonder and curiosity.
It is also a tragic film, full of hardship and horrible hapenstance, one can not help but shed a figuritive tear at the horrors Palme and his friends both face and become.

It is constantly criticized for not having a "Cohesive narritive" or being "over developed but under realized" the naysayers that claim this are mistaken and again, are missing the point.

A tree of Palme is a allegory as well as a fairy tale. Not Everything is supposed to make absolute sense. Why doesn't anybody criticize Miyazaki (the director of the animated films Spirited Away,Howl's Moving Castle, and Princess Mononokee) for the same reasons? His works are just as (if not more surreal)than A tree of Palme yet are never criticized as such.

The film is logical from a child's point of view, a kind of strange if these things exist, than this must happen, mentality that has been all but lost in an age of modern cinema awash in cliches and tired retreads of aging concepts, the film expects you to interpret the meaning of itself, it doesn't spoon feed you plot or reasoning, it assumes you have a mind and can sort those dillemas out for yourself.

Again, A Tree of Palme is a enchanting film that never really got the publicity or appreciation it deserved. Buy and Own this film, it is a genunine classic in an age of pretenders.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tree of Enjoyment, May 29, 2011

By 

C. Nunn "manga fan" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Tree of Palme (DVD)

When I picked up Tree of Palme to watch, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I also didn't notice that the story was supposed to be Pinocchio with a twist either. To put it simply, the summary drew me in and I found myself wanting to watch it for the sake of watching it. So, I didn't come into the movie with any expectations.

When the movie starts off, it comes across as slightly confusing and in the long run, there are bits that you wish could have been expanded upon. Thing is, the confusion is cleared up not long into the film and some of the things that aren't expanded upon were for time sake. There are also a few brash jumps, but over all, the film is enjoyable.

Something to keep in mind about this film is the fact that it the world it takes place in is not a realistic one, but in fact very surreal, something that will not appeal to the tastes of everyone who may pick this up. That said, the things that don't occur in reality are still believable, something that is very important for the viewer.

The characters were what I liked best. They had lovable personalities that make the viewer fall in love with them. The characters also aren't perfect, they have individual flaws to them that help to round out each one to be very unique. Well, Mu and Pu are very similar to each other, but then there is an obvious reason for that.

At the end, I was left wanting more about the characters, but knew with the way the story ended, I'll be unlikely to end up with sequel to the movie. Also, parents should be for warned that the theme of the movie is on the dark side and death is talked about from the very beginning of the movie. The whole thing is likable, not to mention enjoyable.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, February 6, 2011

By 

Anton - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Tree of Palme (DVD)

This Japanese Animated tale is a beautiful fantasy that will transport the viewer to a completely original world of creativity-unbounded. This is one of my top 10 movies of all time. The eerie strangeness of this work of art are comparable to Sci-Fi classics like Fantatic Planet.